Fender

Remove and replace the front fender on a 1992 Dodge Viper, including removal of headlight assembly, side marker, inner fender liner, and all mounting fasteners.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front fender (left or right as needed) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Fender liner clips (assorted) × 1 — Replace any broken clips
• Fender liner screws × 1 — Replace if damaged

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and apply parking brake.
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels.
3. Disconnect negative battery cable to prevent accidental electrical shorts when working near headlight wiring.
4. Raise and support the front of the vehicle on jack stands at the manufacturer-specified jacking points.
5. Remove the front wheel on the side being serviced.
6. Protect adjacent body panels with masking tape or fender covers to prevent accidental damage during fender removal.
7. If replacing fender due to collision damage, inspect door, hood, and front fascia alignment before starting work.

Procedure

1. 1

   Mark fender position
   Before removing any fasteners, use a felt-tip marker to trace the outline of the fender along the door edge and hood edge. This will provide a reference for proper alignment during reinstallation. Take photographs of the fender-to-door and fender-to-hood gaps for reference.
2. 2

   Remove inner fender liner
   Working from underneath the vehicle with the wheel removed, locate and remove all screws and clips securing the inner fender liner to the fender and wheel well. The liner is typically secured with a combination of plastic push-clips and screws. Remove the screws first, then carefully pry out the push-clips using a trim removal tool. Pull the liner away from the fender to access the backside mounting bolts. Note: Tighten the fender liner screws snugly by hand — do not over-tighten, as the panels are composite and can crack. No specific torque value applies.
3. 3

   Disconnect side marker light
   If a side marker light is present on the fender being serviced, locate the assembly and remove its retaining fasteners (verify count and type against OEM documentation). Carefully pull the marker light assembly forward to access the wiring connector. Disconnect the electrical connector by pressing the release tab and pulling straight out. Remove the marker light assembly completely.
4. 4

   Remove headlight assembly
   Note: The 1992 Viper RT/10 uses pop-up (hidden) headlamp assemblies housed in the front nose/clip, not headlamps mounted within the fender. Headlamp removal is generally NOT required for fender service. Only address the headlamp assembly if the specific fender being serviced physically interferes with it; otherwise skip this step and verify against OEM documentation. headlight assembly and set aside in a safe location.
5. 5

   Remove upper fender mounting bolts
   With the hood open, locate the fender mounting bolts along the top edge of the fender near the hood hinge area and along the firewall. Remove all upper mounting bolts. On the Viper's composite body panels, verify the exact upper fender fastener locations and counts against OEM/body repair documentation before removal, as attachment to the tubular space frame differs from typical steel unibody vehicles. Keep these fasteners organized as they may be different lengths.
6. 6

   Remove door jamb mounting bolts
   Open the door on the side being serviced. Locate the fender mounting bolts in the door jamb area where the fender meets the door pillar. Remove these bolts, typically 2-3 bolts along the vertical edge. These fasteners secure the rear edge of the fender to the body structure.
7. 7

   Remove lower fender mounting bolts
   From underneath the vehicle with the inner fender liner pulled back or removed, locate the lower fender mounting bolts. Remove all bolts securing the bottom edge of the fender to the rocker panel and inner structure. There are typically 3-4 bolts along the bottom edge accessible from the wheel well.
8. 8

   Remove front mounting bolts
   At the front of the fender where it meets the front fascia and radiator support area, locate and remove the remaining mounting bolts. These may be accessed from the front or from inside the engine compartment. Check carefully for any remaining fasteners before attempting to remove the fender.
9. 9

   Remove fender from vehicle
   With all mounting bolts removed, have an assistant support the fender from the outside. Carefully lift and pull the fender away from the vehicle body, checking for any remaining fasteners or clips. The fender should separate from the door and hood edges cleanly. Lift the fender up and away from the vehicle. Inspect all mounting points on the body for damage or misalignment before installing the new fender.
10. 10

    Prepare new fender for installation
    Inspect the new fender for shipping damage or defects. Clean all mounting surfaces on the vehicle body, removing any dirt, rust, or old sealant. Transfer any mounting brackets, shims, or alignment hardware from the old fender to the new fender if they are not pre-installed. Apply body seam sealer to mounting flanges if originally present on the old fender.
11. 11

    Install and position new fender
    With an assistant supporting the fender, carefully position the new fender onto the vehicle. Align the rear edge with the door and the top edge with the hood, using the reference marks made during removal. Start all mounting bolts by hand before tightening any of them. Begin with the upper bolts near the hood, then the door jamb bolts, then lower and front bolts. Leave all bolts finger-tight to allow for final alignment adjustment.
12. 12

    Align fender and torque fasteners
    Check fender-to-hood gaps, fender-to-door gaps, and overall alignment with the front fascia. Adjust as needed by loosening and repositioning before final torque. Once satisfied with alignment, torque all fender mounting bolts to specification in a progressive pattern, working from the center outward. Start with upper bolts, then door jamb bolts, then lower and front bolts.
13. 13

    Reinstall headlight assembly
    Reconnect all electrical connectors to the headlight assembly, ensuring they click into place securely. Position the headlight assembly into its mounting location and install the mounting bolts. Verify proper fitment of the headlight to the fender and front fascia before final tightening. If any headlamp connectors were disturbed, reconnect the negative battery cable and verify headlamp raise/lower and illumination operation of the pop-up headlamps.
14. 14

    Reinstall side marker light
    Reconnect the electrical connector to the side marker light assembly. Position the marker light into the fender opening and install the mounting screws. Ensure the light is flush with the fender surface.
15. 15

    Reinstall inner fender liner and wheel
    Position the inner fender liner back into place and install all screws and push-clips, ensuring proper coverage of the wheel well area. Torque fender liner screws to specification. Reinstall the front wheel and lower the vehicle from jack stands. Reconnect the negative battery cable.

Reassembly

1. Installation is performed in reverse order of removal, following steps 10-15 for proper fender alignment and torque specifications.
2. Ensure all electrical connectors for headlight and marker light are fully seated before testing.
3. Verify even gaps between fender and hood, fender and door, and fender and front fascia before final torque of all fasteners.
4. Replace any broken or damaged fender liner clips during reassembly.

Verification

• Verify all panel gaps are even and consistent with the opposite side of the vehicle.
• Open and close the door to ensure the fender does not interfere with door operation and gaps remain consistent.
• Open and close the hood to verify proper clearance and alignment with the fender.
• Test headlight and side marker light operation to confirm all electrical connections are secure.
• Inspect for any rattles or loose fasteners by gently pushing on the fender at various points.
• Road test the vehicle at low speed and listen for any wind noise or vibration from the fender area.

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